Congratulations! You made it! You survived and excelled in your student teaching. You are now a science teacher! If you would, take a few minutes to share your wisdom about how to negotiate this difficult year with the students who are following in your footsteps by answering the following questions.
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
Go as much as you can because the more you get adjusted to the daily schedule, daily procedures within the school, and more importantly you will strengthen your relationships with your cooperating teacher and students. The more everyone within the school gets familiar with you, the more comfortable you will be with everyone. When attending your schools as much as possible, you get to see the style of teaching that your cooperating teacher uses within their classrooms and the style of teaching that your future students are use to and are comfortable with during their school days. I would also suggest that students teach lessons within the fall in order to get experience with their specific classes. When teaching a lesson in the fall, you can get tips from your cooperating teacher that will help you in the spring. Teaching these lessons will also give you experience when planning class days and managing activities that fit for a particular curriculum.
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
Topics include the planning process, safety within a classroom, as well as engagement with your students. The planning process is vital in the spring, so any experiences you can get in the fall leading up to student teaching will be a great help. With the planning process, organization and time management are also important factors that help develop lessons and create supplemental materials. The unit plan is also a great help because the more effort and time that is put into this project in the fall, the more realistic it is to use these materials in the spring. Safety is also an important topic because when planning laboratory activities, keeping in mind what safety precautions that need to be addressed in order for students to be in a safe environment will in the management of behavior that may arise.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
If I had known more information about some of the inclusion classes within my class schedule, specifically with IEP accommodations and modifications, it would have helped prepare for when planning lessons.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
Have the mindset of always getting better every day. Be humble and have fun.
a. What are some things students should do in their fall practicum to make their student teaching go more smoothly?
Go as much as you can because the more you get adjusted to the daily schedule, daily procedures within the school, and more importantly you will strengthen your relationships with your cooperating teacher and students. The more everyone within the school gets familiar with you, the more comfortable you will be with everyone. When attending your schools as much as possible, you get to see the style of teaching that your cooperating teacher uses within their classrooms and the style of teaching that your future students are use to and are comfortable with during their school days. I would also suggest that students teach lessons within the fall in order to get experience with their specific classes. When teaching a lesson in the fall, you can get tips from your cooperating teacher that will help you in the spring. Teaching these lessons will also give you experience when planning class days and managing activities that fit for a particular curriculum.
b. What 430 topics/assignments should students make sure are addressed in detail to prepare them for student teaching?
Topics include the planning process, safety within a classroom, as well as engagement with your students. The planning process is vital in the spring, so any experiences you can get in the fall leading up to student teaching will be a great help. With the planning process, organization and time management are also important factors that help develop lessons and create supplemental materials. The unit plan is also a great help because the more effort and time that is put into this project in the fall, the more realistic it is to use these materials in the spring. Safety is also an important topic because when planning laboratory activities, keeping in mind what safety precautions that need to be addressed in order for students to be in a safe environment will in the management of behavior that may arise.
c. Help the next group of science education student teachers by completing the thought: "If I knew in September what I know now, I could have been better prepared for student teaching if I had ...."
If I had known more information about some of the inclusion classes within my class schedule, specifically with IEP accommodations and modifications, it would have helped prepare for when planning lessons.
d. Are there other words of wisdom/encouragement that you want to share?
Have the mindset of always getting better every day. Be humble and have fun.